Physician at Private sector
Title: Electroacupuncture: overview, theoretical foundations and visions for the future
Biography:
Dr.Ares is Physician int he private sector,specialized in family medicine, sports medicine, acupuncture, pain management and electroacupuncture, and I am interested in modulation via bioelectromagnetism
Electroacupuncture stems from acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice widely supported by Western medicine and increasingly gaining followers due to a substantial body of evidence showcasing its high efficacy and virtually absent side effects. To date, there isn't a unified theory that explains all the widely proven effects of acupuncture, but there are potential candidates. It is assumed that the effects of electroacupuncture, in turn, derive to some extent from the amplified effects of acupuncture, yet there are more palatable biophysical explanations for Western medicine practitioners. Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), grounded in a unique system of diagnosis and treatment, with singular nomenclature and involving extensive training in concepts like Chi, physical constitution, five elements, yin-yang, and meridians. This terminology, though intriguing to some physicians, remains unfamiliar and challenging for the vast majority of Western medicine practitioners, prompting attempts to explain the effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture through contemporary neurobiology concepts. The incorporation of modern Western medical theories into TCM isn't new and has been described at various points in history, notably in the 1950s in China, when Chinese researchers sought to merge local and Western practices, outlining new therapeutic approaches for acupuncture. My practice of acupuncture and electroacupuncture follows the perspective of Western Medical Acupuncture, which does not strictly adhere to TCM principles and broadly includes diagnostic methods familiar to Western physicians. Such an approach is quite common among acupuncturists trained within the logic of Western medicine. Electroacupuncture can be defined as the application of electrical currents to the same needles traditionally used in acupuncture. Generally, the electrified needle placement occurs near the intended therapeutic site, but they can also be applied to classical points or within TCM logic. The needles' electrification is done using specific devices designed for this purpose to ensure greater safety when applying electrical currents amid biological tissues. The most widespread current use for electroacupuncture, much like acupuncture, is its application in pain treatment, whether chronic or acute. It is also employed for tissue regeneration in the musculoskeletal system, reducing hypertrophic scars, and as a neuromodulatory strategy, aimed at treating major depressive episodes, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and Parkinson's disease. Electroacupuncture is a low-cost therapeutic modality, virtually free of side effects, and with minimal contraindications. Several studies demonstrate that electroacupuncture is safe for patients with epileptic disorders or even in users of cardiac pacemakers or other implanted electronic devices. It is an underutilized therapeutic modality with substantial potential to be explored by Western medicine practitioners. Furthermore, it is a safe practice with broad applicability, provided it is practiced by duly qualified professionals. The scarcity of research in the field and its extensive range of applications favor electroacupuncture becoming the focus of an increasingly growing number of studies demonstrating its efficacy in an expanding clinical landscape.